GOP to Acorn AARP? Updated!

[ej510]

Josh Marshall | October 28, 2009, 2:39PMRepublicans are so pumped with how the Acorn takedown went that they've decided to try the same thing with AARP. Not sure they're going to come up with the same kind of material to work with but they're giving it a try.

The GOP's new line of attack against health care reform is starting to sound familiar.

On Monday, we reported on the House GOP's plans to target AARP in the health care reform debate. Republican leaders say AARP is supporting changes to the Medicare system included in Democratic health care reform bills because they would result in more sales of AARP-branded insurance. They claim that "backroom deals" between executives of the AARP and Democratic leadership -- deals the GOP say are designed to protect the executives' high salaries -- led to the group's pro-Medicare reform rhetoric.

Yesterday, the message gained traction the right wing commentariat. AARP flatly denies the claims and says it's beginning to feel a little like the GOP's new ACORN.

"Oh, absolutely," an AARP official told TPMDC. "They're using their standard methods to target us."

Yesterday, right wing blogs and publications picked up the story. Michelle Malkin retweeted the House GOP talking points on the topic and Human Events published a story echoing the GOP claims. Malkin and the conservative magazine focused on the corruption message, highlighting the "back-room" dealing.

The GOP has gone further than rhetoric as well. Rep. Dave Reichert (R-WA) claims to have launched an investigation into AARP in his home state. Reichert says his "ongoing" investigation focuses on whether AARP should be classified as an insurance company because of its revenue from royalties the group gets from licensing its brand for insurance products. AARP says it's not aware of the investigation, and Reichert suggested to reporters Monday that it was essentially stalled. But the question of whether AARP is an insurance company or not is at the center of the GOP messaging on the group.

For their part, AARP officials say they're not worried about being taken down by the GOP attacks in the same way that ACORN was. The group has been accused of conflicts of interest many times over the years, most notably during the 2003 debate over the Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage plan. Back then, it was Democrats who vilified the AARP, claiming there was a conflict behind the the group's support for the bill, which helped to guarantee its passage.

The AARP official we spoke to said there was a different tone to those Democratic attacks however. This time around, Republicans are directly accusing the AARP of corruption and secret dealings. The official was confident the AARP will weather the controversy but said it's clear the GOP has put the group in its sights.

"It's our turn," the official said.
The democrats will fold and let it happen.

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/10/is-aarp-the-gops-new-acorn.php?ref=fpa

[sharp_stick]

1. The AARP

has enough money and members to bury the GOP a thousand times over.

[SoFlaJet]

3. GREAT Move Boys!!!!

The GOP, the party of no that hates blacks, Hispanics, poor people, and now....OLD PEOPLE!!!! I guess that 20% will be dropping even further.

[Dawson Leery]

2. Unlike Acorn, the AARP has many

affluent members of the elder and politically ACTIVE communities.
The GOP would only hurt themselves by going after the AARP as the GOP cannot afford to lose the senior vote.

[ej510]

4. Let the battle begin.

[budkin]

5. Laughable! Please do this Repigs!!!

[Mr. Sparkle]

6. When will the Democrats start fighting back and help their friends?

What happened to acorn was disgusting.

How about we piss off a few Republicans big donors and slap a profits tax on big oil, back dated.

The republicans are are not having to work hard enough to protect what they have, but instead have launch campaigns as if they were still the majority. The Democrats are been played for fools.

For example, to clear up the healthcare debate, how many filibuster's have the Republicans pulled so far in the last 3 years? they set a new record for the most filibuster's. The Democrats should threaten the nuclear option or hell even do it. Make the Republicans grovel on their knees to bring it back or they will have zero power even with the corporatist democrats included.

the problem with the democrats is that, they cant see past their face. What i would give for real leadership.

[Cha]

7. And, all AARP did was want Affordalble Health

Care for their members.

That's the goperverts' MO..overreach and overKill.

Stupid group you belong to, Olympia Snowe, Susan Collins, and the rest of you so called "moderates".